People

Rod Bissell

QinetiQ North America, based in Huntsville, Ala., appointed Rod Bissell senior vice president of business development at its Systems Engineering Group, responsible for managing the group’s Aerospace & Missile Technology business development organization, processes and procedures. Prior to joining the company in 2005, Bissell was director of business development, Southeast Region, for Computer Sciences Corp. Before that, he was manager of Joint & International Operations for Nichols Research Corp.; oversaw the development of the Hellfire missile and Aerial Rocket programs at Redstone Arsenal; and was the chief of defense cooperative armaments at the United States embassy in Rome.

Emrise Corp. Appointments

Emrise Corp., of Eatontown, N.J., promoted Graham Jefferies to president and chief operating officer (COO), and John Donovan to senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Carmine T. Oliva remained chairman and CEO, but turned over his president’s role to Jefferies. Emrise Corp. manufactures electronic devices and subsystems for the aerospace and defense markets as well as telecommunications equipment. Jefferies most recently was executive vice president and COO. He started at the company in 1992 as managing director of Emrise Electronics Ltd. In 1996, he became managing director of XCEL Power Systems Ltd, part of the Emrise Electronic Devices Business segment. He became managing director of Belix Power Conversions Ltd., Belix Wound Components Ltd. and Belix Company Ltd. following the acquisition of those companies by Emrise in 2000. He was appointed Emrise executive vice president and COO of the Emrise Telecommunications Group in 1999 and Emrise COO in 2005. Donovan has been vice president, Finance and Administration, and secretary and treasurer of Emrise since 2007. Prior to joining the company, he spent nearly three years as a management consultant at DLC Inc., a financial project solutions provider. From 2002 to 2004, Donovan was CFO of Chem Lab Products Inc., a private chemical manufacturer.

Markus Schmitz

Becker Avionics, based in Miramar, Fla., promoted Markus Schmitz to president and general manager, overseeing the company’s U.S. operations. Schmitz was most recently vice president of Strategy and Business Development.

Charles Dutch

Boeing named Charles Dutch director of its support facility in Heath, Ohio. Dutch will lead operations including the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and Aircraft Systems depot-level repair, as well as repairs and spares production for Airborne Warning and Control System Electronic Systems Measures. Dutch formerly was director of Boeing’s ICBM Guidance Replacement Program, managing work in Heath, Anaheim, Calif., and El Paso, Texas. The program concluded in December. Dutch joined Boeing in 1986 following a career in the U.S. Air Force.

Michelle A. Scarpella

Northrop Grumman appointed Michelle A. Scarpella vice president of F/A-18 programs for the Strike and Surveillance Systems Division, a component of the company’s Aerospace Systems sector. Scarpella is responsible for all aspects of the F/A-18 program. As principal F/A-18 subcontractor to Boeing, Northrop Grumman designs and produces the aircraft’s center/aft fuselage, integrates all associated subsystems and conducts after-delivery product support. Scarpella joined the company in 1987 and has held a number of positions in program management, global supply chain and quality programs, including the B-2 Spirit bomber, E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) and E-2C Hawkeye. She most recently served as director and deputy F/A-18 program manager.

Carey Miller

Universal Avionics Systems Corp., of Tucson, Ariz., named Carey Miller to the newly created position of U.S. Western Region marketing manager. Miller has more than 20 years of experience in aviation sales. Prior to joining Universal, he held the positions of account manager at Rockwell Collins and corporate pilot flying various company aircraft. Miller is a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) International Operators’ Conference planning committee and holds a commercial multi-engine instrument rating with type ratings in the Bombardier Challenger 604 and Beechjet 400a aircraft.

Steve Cooper

The FAA Air Traffic Organization (ATO) named Steve Cooper ATO’s chief information officer (CIO) and director of information technology. Before joining FAA, Cooper served as CIO for the Red Cross and CIO for the Department of Homeland Security.

Mitch Kugler

Raytheon appointed Mitch Kugler vice president of strategy, with responsibility for working with Raytheon’s businesses to formulate the company’s strategy, enhance its execution and ensure it is integrated operationally. Kugler most recently was employed with Boeing as director of Advocacy Integration for its Integrated Defense Systems business. He previously was director of Strategic Initiatives for Boeing’s Missile Defense Systems business. Kugler’s first position at Boeing was director, Strategic Planning, in the Missile Defense Systems division.